Both the Central
Powers and the Allied Nations publicized and promoted subscriptions to
War Loans using various mediums. The most ubiquitous was the poster,
employed by both sides in the war. These posters were displayed in
public and within government facilities (such as the post office) as
well as in the offices and factories of private industry. A great many
of these posters were reproduced "in miniature" and issued as
postal cards. This is the source of the term "poster art" to
describe certain postcards among collectors. The Austrian war loan cards
represent perhaps the most consistent use of high quality "poster
art". They are extremely rich in graphic detail and composition, as
well as symbolism appealing to the emotions of the citizenry. The
Austrian War Loan cards, of any class of propaganda, represent the
height of the lithographer's art in the second decade of the twentieth
century.
Advertisements and
postal cards for the 1st and 2nd Austrian war loan are unknown and cards
for the 3rd and 4th war loan are very hard to find. This page starts
with a small advertisement (postcard size) for the 3rd Austrian war
loan.

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